Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1886-1890, 1887-07-08
9ai19 eagle
MY BALLOON VOYAGE.

crowd of mingled soldiers and citizens
who babe us godspeed in our desperate
venture to carry to ChanZy tidings of the
condition of beleagured Paris, and to as.
certain the best-or worst-to be appre-
hended from without. The Ariel-that
was the name of our vessel-was fully
equipped for a long voyage, and we hoped
that by judicious management we would
be able to deliver the important dispatches
intrusted to US; and in the event of diff
Guilty as to the return trip we would seek
as high an altitude as was consistent with
safety, and, if the currents proved con-
trary, seek hospitable welcome on the
north shore of the British channel. There,
at least, would we be safe from the ma
rauding, implacable, iron handed German,
almost ubiquitous in France, until favor
ing winds would make return easy. We
were freighted with very important dis
patches and every precaution had been
taken for their instant destruction by
powerful chemicals in case Of accident or
the fortunes Of war placing US at the
enemy's mercy Ny two companions
were Mr.. Frank Y. Page, a young Nir-
gilman, and an officer named Henriot, and
we had an arsenal of weapons, ammuni-
ton, dynamite combs, etc, and were pro-
vided with excellent field glasses.
''What a grand sightr' said Page, rap
turously, as the Ariel scared alOft in the
quiet morning, leaving below US, spread
out like vast panorama, the beautiful
city and its environs, with its aggregation
of triumphs of architecture, its fountains
and columns, its squares, its gardens and
parks, with the Seine winding like sill
yer thread through it all, and the beauti
full city of Versailles in the distance 1t
was indeed a sight to awaken rapturous
admiration of the beautiful. To Henriot,
however, it was full Of bitterness. The
beauty was lost to him. His keen mill
tary instinct affected his vision, and to
him the most obtrudent features of the
panorama over which Page and 1 en-
Unused were the triple lines of the besieg-
ing army and the frOwning batteries
which like black sentineIs, at short inter
walls, marked the line of siege. We were
feasting on the scene when suddenly we
heard distant shot, quickly followed by
several others.
"Were diScOveredn' said HenriOt.
''They are feeling our range"
'Drop out some BALLAST said Page,
who was our engineer eve are too low
have long range"
Puff! Puff Puff! We could see the
Jets of smoke, quickly followed by the
sound of the rifles of the hostile marks
men. The wind was scarcely perceptible
and we moved very slowly. I threw out
more ballast.
Bang! The shock was so unexpected
and startling that i nearly fell over the
81 10 Of iAt
the fire. Bangl again went his rifle. L
grasped my field glass and adjusted the
focus. l glanced at Henriot. He was
aiming at group, evidently officers, who
were doubtless discussing their uneX-
pected early visitors from slight knoll
! Bang, went the heavy rifle again. Sew
eral seconds elapsed, when suddenly one
of the group tumbled from his horse and
the animal reared and plunged furiously.
"Your rifies" eXcitedly cried Henriot,
and in less time than it takes me to tell it
we were all three firing at the force below
Us, with what effect L could not distin-
guish. There was perfect fusilade from
the infantry and body Of Uhlans rode
along, firing at us on the run. At one
point six-pounder was trained on us,
but our increasing speed and height put
its use beyond possibility. The wind was
freshening and Paris was rapidly reced
ing to the west. We We're sailing along
at the height of about a mile, and had
Just begun to congratulate each other on
having distanced the pursuing Uhlans
and passed the Gordon which ercircled the
fated capital when a new enemy appeared,
conjured up by the telegraph which the
Germans used so Sllillfully.
1t was another balloon!
This was a serious matter. In the very
nature of things it was clearly battle of
no ordinary character must be fought; be-
cause, attaining our altitude-which was
evidently the enemy's objective would
drift in close proximity to each other in
the same air current and a deadly rifle
duel would follow, ending up in the death
or disabling of either crew. These
thoughts ran rapidly through my mind as
/ took in the situation. / glanced at Page.
Evidently a similar train of thought had
been engaging him. Henriot had got done
thinking and was cropping amid the stock
of offensive weapons with which we were
supplied, having evidently matured a plan
of campaign.
''They must not rise under us or we're
lost" said he. "Can you afford TO lower
us?''
eyes" said Page: and lie had scarcely
spoken when felt the Ariel sinking.
'sThat will do" said Henriot They
will be nearly on our level when we get
within range. We will try our rifles first
and, failing, we must drop out ballast and
get above them Our bombs will do the
work-if, indeed, contact with the light
structure of the balloon viii produce con-
cussion sufficient To explode them.
doubt if it will "
Henriot was treasure. He discussed
the probabilities of success at the height
of over half a mile, on this zephyr ship,
with as much sang froid rs if he were
going out on dress parade. | was terribly
apprehensive and thought Page was even
more SO, but Henriot's GOODNESS steadied
my nerves. Even the desperation born of
terror is better than abject numbness. and
a moment later each of us held Chase
pot rifle awaiting the deadly encounter.
eve have the advantage YET" said
Henriot, as he carefully placed cartridge
In a convenient position; ''we must use il
to the full. Those fellows are Uhlans,
and are doubtless ARMED with carbines not
good for over 500 yards. Our Chassepots
will have 400 to 500 yards the better Of
them Ha! What's thaty'
1t was a second hostile balloon, which
had risen on our left, while our enemy in
front had monopolized our INTEREST,"
Henriot turned to me and resting his
gun on the edge Of the basket extended
his hand. grasped and wrung 1t, and
each in turn gazed in the others eyes
without word. Page was the first to
speak His voice was firm
''It looks hard, but we can only die
once. We took our lives in our hands
when we came on this voyage and we Will
die, if we have 70 die. like men who know